Getting Started

Choosing to pursue occupational therapy for your child is an important decision, and we understand that families often begin this process with many questions.

Our role at this stage is to help you understand how OT may be able to help, and to guide you towards the best next steps that feel right for your family.

A First Step: New Family Consultation

We typically begin with a complimentary phone consultation with one of our clinical directors. This is an opportunity for us to hear your concerns, answer your questions, and learn what you’re hoping for your child. Whether you’re wondering if occupational therapy is the right fit, curious about our approach, or simply looking for guidance on next steps, we’re here to help.

Together, we’ll determine whether an occupational therapy evaluation feels like the right next step for your family.

To schedule a New Family Consultation, please scroll to the bottom of any page on our website and select the consultation link.

Step Two: A Child-Centered Evaluation

Our evaluations are designed with your child’s comfort and experience in mind.

We know that children show us their most authentic selves when they feel safe, connected, and comfortable. Because of this, our evaluations are largely play-based and observational in nature.

During your child’s first visit, we spend time getting to know them through spontaneous play, movement and sensory experiences, and clinical observations. We are looking at many areas of development. Our aim is to understand their underlying sensory-motor profile and how that connects to the more easily observable areas of their development including their behaviors and skills.

Rather than simply asking, “What skills does this child have or not have?” we want to know: “How does this child experience the world, and themselves in relation to the world around them?”

Many children experience their evaluation as a fun opportunity to explore, play, and connect.

Following the evaluation, we schedule a follow-up conversation with you to discuss what we learned, answer your questions, and determine together what next steps make the most sense. We also create a comprehensive report that captures our observations, clinical impressions, and recommendations.

Step Three: Creating a Plan Together and Tracking Progress

If you would like to move forward, we will work with your family to schedule ongoing sessions with one of our occupational therapists. We are intentional in the way we pair families with someone on our team.

Therapy sessions at Sprout are:

• Individualized to your child’s unique needs

• Guided by meaningful goals

• Rooted in relationship and connection

• Designed to support real-life participation

• Fun! Therapy often feels like play, and that is intentional.

Sessions are 50 minutes long and typically occur one or two times per week.

Within the first several weeks of working together, we collaborate with you to establish specific, measurable, and meaningful goals for your child’s therapy. These goals are based on your family’s priorities and concerns and what we learn about your child in the context of therapy. We revisit these goals regularly to make sure our work continues to be relevant and meaningful for your child and family.

Importantly, progress is not only measured by skills gained. We also celebrate the everyday changes that matter most:

• Increased confidence

• Greater flexibility

• More successful routines

• Improved self-awareness and ability to communicate needs

• Greater comfort, capacity and connection